After a storm
Hail or wind hit your roof. Here's what to do.
The first few days after a storm decide how much you pay. Stop the water, document the damage, and pick your own roofer before anyone knocks on your door.
Step by step
- Stay safe and stop the water. Don't climb on a wet or damaged roof. Move belongings away from leaks, put buckets under drips, and keep water away from lights and outlets. If water is coming in, a roofer can put on an emergency tarp. Keep the receipt: temporary repairs are usually part of the claim.
- Document everything before anything is fixed. Take dated photos and video from the ground: missing shingles, dents in gutters and vents, granules piled at downspouts, hail on the lawn next to a coin for scale, and any interior stains. Note the date and time of the storm.
- Get an inspection from someone you chose. After big storms, crews go door to door. Pick a local, licensed, insured roofer yourself, ask for photos of every damaged spot, and get the findings in writing before you sign anything.
- Read your policy, then file the claim. Check your deductible first. Many policies in hail and wind states use a separate percentage deductible (for example 1–2% of your dwelling coverage), which can be thousands of dollars. Policies also set deadlines for filing, so don't wait months.
- Be there when the adjuster comes. Walk the property with the adjuster and share your photos and your roofer's findings. Ask for the written estimate. It lists every line item the insurer agreed to pay for.
- Compare the insurance estimate with the roofer's quote. Line them up item by item: tear-off, underlayment, ice barrier where required, flashing, vents, decking. Missing items can often be added with a supplement. ROOF's compare tool reads both from photos and shows you the gaps.
Storm-chaser red flags
- A crew knocks on your door right after a storm and offers a free roof.
- They ask you to sign on the spot, before your claim is approved.
- They offer to pay or waive your deductible. That's illegal in many states and can be insurance fraud.
- They want a large payment up front, or cash only.
- Out-of-area plates, no local office, and no license number on the paperwork.
- Any contract that hands your insurance payments to them (an assignment of benefits) before you understand it.
How ROOF helps
- Measures your roof from aerial imagery, so you know the size before anyone quotes.
- Reads your quote and the insurance estimate from photos and compares them line by line.
- Prices the job for your state, so you can tell a fair quote from a padded one.
- Finds well-reviewed local roofers and never takes money from them.
Common questions
Does homeowners insurance cover hail damage to a roof?
Most standard homeowners policies cover sudden damage from hail and wind, minus your deductible. Some policies pay only the depreciated value of an older roof, and some exclude cosmetic damage, so check your declarations page.
How long do I have to file a roof damage claim?
It depends on your policy and state, often one to two years, but some policies require prompt notice. File as soon as you've documented the damage.
Can a roofer waive my deductible?
No. You're expected to pay your deductible, and in many states it's illegal for a contractor to waive, rebate or absorb it. A contractor who offers is a red flag.
Should I let the roofer talk to my insurance company?
Your roofer can meet the adjuster and document damage, which helps. But you stay in charge of the claim. Don't sign anything that gives the contractor control of your insurance payments until you understand it.
Check your roof and your quote
Start with your address. ROOF measures the roof and tells you what a fair repair or replacement costs where you live.
Free. We measure your roof from aerial imagery. No account, nothing sent to contractors.
This is general guidance, not legal or insurance advice. Your policy and your state's rules decide what's covered.